Tonight’s show was an honor to produce. Since arriving in Jacksonville, Courtney Lewis, Music Director and Conductor for the Jacksonville Symphony, has encouraged a more daring program of music, exposing Jacksonville to modern composers.

It’s important to know the classics, but it’s equally important to know what modern composers are doing. Avant’s mission of exposing people to new music is in line with what Courtney is doing at the symphony. We were excited to hear the music he brought to us.

His approach to his theme was an ode to BBC’s “Desert Island Discs,” where guests are asked to provide soundtracks to their lives. Courtney chose music that was instrumental in developing his musical abilities, his passions in life, and his character.

The Dub show! We love the low end, so we dedicated an entire end to classiDillingerern Dub. We looked for artists that push(ed) the boundaries of low-end distortion. Tap into the herbal medicinal chest and lay back and feel the frequency.

Tonight, we explored the music of Frank Zappa through the guidance of John E. Citrone. Zappa is one of those musicians whose catalog’s sheer size takes years to properly digest. He explored a wide range of musical genres, pushing the boundaries both musically and culturally. His sharp wit extended far beyond music, being a champion for free speech, critical thought, and the freedom to explore creatively.

Tonight’s show explores the richness and diversity of the European Jazz scene. Many American Jazz critics turn a nose upwards towards the majority of the jazz output citing that it doens’t hold true to the forms and standards of jazz, but the contrary argument is that American Jazz is stuck in a time warp, that it needs to evolve. The very definition of Jazz is its ability to move and grow.

Tonight’s theme was an homage to friendship. Today, we have algorithms and artificial intelligence suggesting new music that we may like. While this technology represents bridging us to new music that we wouldn’t come into contact with, we miss the days of friends sitting around, sharing new music, and collectively discovering new artists.

Recently, a friend visited from Cuba (She’s originally from Israel). She brought gigs of music. We shared new artists with one another. Tonight’s show came from that folder It was new music to me, and thought it made a great theme for the radio show. Michal, thanks for the tunes!

Tonight is an exciting show for us. We invited Arvid Smith, songsmith, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist to steer the wheel of tonight’s Avant Radio. His theme was traditional instruments used in non-traditional ways. It’s easily the biggest stretch we’ve made with the show – a show of textures and experimentation, we ask the listener to stretch their ears and open their minds with this show.

This evening’s show, we explore music from a specific region, the crossroads of European and Arabic culture, Andalucia. More importantly, the show looks deeper into the connection between Spanish and Arabic musical traditions. Through the Moors, these two cultures met. The effect still felt today. From Portugal through the European side of the Mediterranean, these musical traditions fused and had an effect on one another.

One of the goals of Avant Radio is to share the steering wheel with others. Tonight, we’re honored to have Philip Pan curating the show. The retired concertmaster of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is a mainstay on the regional music scene. Tonight, he brings an assortment of regional acts that feature the violin in unique ways.

This week’s episode, entitled “Exotic Sounds, Foreign Lands,” is an homage to travel. One of the best ways we’ve opened our ears to new sounds is through traveling. Sitting in ashrams on buses, and in homes…going into the countryside to hear folk music, and by being open to the spirit of adventure…wherever it took us. Here’s the playlist for the show with links to the best of our ability.

Tune in every Thursday evening at 11:00 on WJCT. Sign up for our newsletter and stay curious with Avant.

This week’s episode featured music from around the world focused on a catalog of music known as the “Book of Angels.” This is music in John Zorn’s Masada second book of music. While the first book primarily focused on the numerous incarnations of his Masada project. This book was released by asking artists to arrange and prepare an album of selected songs from the book.